Skip Navigation
Search for People:
Search for Projects:

Duane Waliser

Photo of Duane Waliser

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive
M/S 180-400

Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:

818.393.4094

Curriculum Vitae:

Click here

Member of:

Affiliates

Chief Scientist, Earth Science and Technology Directorate

Biography

Duane Waliser is Chief Scientist of the Earth Science and Technology Directorate, which formulates, develops, and operates a wide range of Earth science remote sensing instruments for NASA’s airborne and satellite program. His research interests lie in Earth system process understanding, weather-climate linkages and their prediction; and interactions between the Earth’s water, energy and carbon cycles. His recent foci at JPL involves working within NASA and across agencies to enable and enhance societal benefits from our growing understanding, observing and modeling capabilities of the Earth System.

Education

  • Ph.D. Physical Oceanography Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD (1992)
  • M.S. Physics, University of California, San Diego (1987)
  • B.S., Physics, Oregon State University (1985)
  • B.S., Computer Science, Oregon State University (1985)

Professional Experience

  • Chief Scientist, Earth Science and Technology Directorate, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2010-Present)
  • Senior Research Scientist, Science Division, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2007-Present)
  • Adjunct Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Fellow of the Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering, U. California (2007-Present)
  • Visiting Associate, Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology (2004-Present)
  • Principal Scientist, Water and Carbon Cycle Group, Science Division, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, (2004-2007)
  • Fellow, Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering (JIFRESSE), University of California, Los Angeles, CA. (2007-Present)
  • Research Associate, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA. (2014-Present)
  • Visiting Associate Faculty, Geological and Planetary Sciences, Caltech (2004-Present)
  • Associate Professor, Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres (ITPA), Marine Science Research Center (MSRC), State University of New York (SUNY), Stony Brook (1999-2004)
  • Assistant Professor, IPTA, MSRC, SUNY, Stony Brook (1993-1999)
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Atmospheric Sciences, University of California (1992-1993)

Research Interests

Earth System Science; Environment, Society and Resilience; Satellite Mission Formulation and Applications; Earth and Environmental Modeling, Climate Dynamics and Change; Global Water Cycle; Weather-Climate Linkages & Extremes

Selected Awards

  • American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Losey Atmospheric Sciences Award (2024)
  • NASA Blue Marble Award, NASA Climate Adaptation Science Investigators Workgroup Initiative (CASI) (2024)
  • JPL Fellow (2022)
  • JPL Magellan Award, Advancing Science of Atmospheric River (2018)
  • California Department of Water Resources Climate Science Service Award (2017)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, obs4MIPs (2015)
  • JPL People Leadership Award (2014)
  • Fellow, American Meteorological Society (2014)
  • JPL Magellan Award, Earth Science and Technology Leadership, Science Leadership (2012)
  • NASA Exceptional Achievement Award (2010)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Science Team (2006)
  • NOAA Postdoctoral Fellowship for Climate and Global Change (1992-1993)
  • NASA Graduate Student Fellowship Recipient (1988-1991)

Selected Publications

  1. KISS Continuity Study Team, 2024, Towards a U.S. Framework for Continuity of Satellite Observations of Earth’s Climate and for Supporting Societal Resilience, Earth’s Future, doi: 10.1029/2023EF003757.
  2. Ralph, F.M., M. D. Dettinger, J. J. Rutz, D. E. Waliser, Eds., 2020. Atmospheric Rivers, Springer, Switzerland, pp. 252.
  3. Guan, B., and D. E. Waliser, 2015, Detection of atmospheric rivers: Evaluation and application of an algorithm for global studies, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 120, 12,514-12,535, doi:10.1002/2015JD024257.
  4. Ferraro, R., D.E. Waliser, P. Gleckler, K. Taylor, and V. Eyring, 2015:, Evolving obs4MIPs to Support the Next CMIP, Bull. Am. Meteor. Soc., doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00216.1.
  5. Ryoo, J.-M., D.E. Waliser, D. W. Waugh, S. Wong, E. J. Fetzer, and I. Fung, 2015: Classification of atmospheric river events on the U.S. West Coast using a trajectory model, J. Geoph. Res., 120, doi:10.1002/2014JD022023.
  6. Seo, K.-W., D.E. Waliser, C.-K. Lee, B. Tian, T. Scambos, B.-M. Kim, J. H. v. Angelen, and M. R. v. d. Broeke, 2015: Accelerated mass loss from Greenland ice sheet: Links to atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic, Global and Planetary Change, 128, 61–71.
  7. Lee, T., D.E. Waliser, J.-L. F. Li, F. W. Landerer, and M. M. Gierach, 2013: Evaluation of CMIP3 and CMIP5 Wind Stress Climatology Using Satellite Measurements and Atmospheric Reanalysis Products, J. Climate, 26, 5810-5826, DOI: 10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00591.1
  8. Li, J.-L. F., D.E. Waliser, G. Stephens, S. Lee, T. S. L'Ecuyer, S. Kato, and N. Loeb, 2013: Characterizing and Understanding Radiation Budget Biases in CMIP3/CMIP5 GCMs, Contemporary GCMs and Reanalyses, JGR, 118, 8166–8184, doi:10.1002/jgrd.50378.
  9. Guan, B., T. Lee, D. J. Halkides, and D. E. Waliser (2014), Aquarius surface salinity and the Madden-Julian Oscillation: The role of salinity in surface layer density and potential energy, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 2858–2869, doi:10.1002/2014GL059704.
  10. Mani, N. J., J. Y. Lee, D.E. Waliser, B. Wang, and X. Jiang, 2014: Predictability of the Madden-Julian Oscillation in the Intraseasonal Variability Hindcast Experiment (ISVHE). J. Clim., 10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00624.1
  11. Waliser, D. E., M. Moncrieff, D. Burrridge, A. Fink, D Gochis, B. N. Goswami, B Guan, P Harr, J Heming, H.-H. Hsu, C Jakob, M. Janiga, R. Johnson, S Jones, P. Knippertz, J Marengo, H Nguyen, M Pope, Y Serra, C Thorncroft, M Wheeler, R. Wood, and S. Yuter, 2012: The "Year" of Tropical Convection (May 2008 to April 2010): Climate Variability and Weather Highlights, Bull. Am. Met. Soc., Vol 93, No 8, DOI:10.1175/2011BAMS3095.1.
  12. Moncrieff, M.W., D. E. Waliser, M. A. Shapiro, G. R. Asrar, J. Caughey: 2012: The Rationale For Addressing Tropical Convection At The Intersection Of Weather And Climate: The Year Of Tropical Convection (YOTC) Project, Bull. Am. Met. Soc., Vol 93, No 8, DOI:10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00233.1.
  13. Lau, W. K. M. and D. E. Waliser, Eds., 2011: Intraseasonal Variability of the Atmosphere-Ocean Climate System, 2nd Edition, Springer, Heidelberg, Germany, pp. 613.
  14. Waliser, D. E., J.-L. Li, T. L'Ecuyer, and W.-T. Chen, 2011: The Impact of Precipitating Ice and Snow on the Radiation Balance in Global Climate Models. Geoph. Res. Let., 38, L06802, doi:10.1029/2010GL046478.
  15. Waliser, D. E., J. Kim, Y. Xue, Chao, Y., A. Eldering, R. Fovell, A. Hall, Q. Li, K. Liou, J. McWilliams, S. Kapnick, R. Vasic, Fs. De Sale, and Y. Yu, 2011, Simulating the Sierra Nevada snowpack: The impact of snow albedo and multi-layer snow physics, Climatic Change, 109, S59-S117, DOI 10.1007/s10584-011-0312-5.
  16. Waliser, D. E., J. F. Li, C. Woods, R. Austin, J. Bacmeister, J. Chern, A. Del Genio, J. Jiang, Z. Kuang, H. Meng, P. Minnis, S. Platnick, W.B. Rossow, G. Stephens, S. Sun-Mack, W.K. Tao, A. Tompkins, D. Vane, C. Walker, D. Wu, 2009: Cloud Ice: A Climate Model Challenge With Signs and Expectations of Progress, J. Geophys. Res.- CloudSat Special Section, 114, D00A21, doi:10.1029/2008JD010015.
  17. Tian, B. J., D. E. Waliser, R. A. Kahn, Q. B. Li, Y. L. Yung, T. Tyranowski, I. V. Geogdzhavev, M. I. Mishchenko, O. Torres, and A. Smirnov, 2008: Does the Madden-Julian Oscillation influence aerosol variability?, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2007JD009372.
  18. Tian, B., Y. L. Yung, D. E. Waliser, T. Tyranowski, L. Kuai, E. J. Fetzer, and F. W. Irion, 2007: Intraseasonal variations of the tropical total ozone and their connection to the MJO. Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L08704, 10.1029/2007GL029471.
  19. Waliser, D. E., K. Seo, S. Schubert, E. Njoku, 2007: Global Water Cycle Agreement in IPCC AR4 Model Simulations, Geoph. Res. Let., 34, L16705, doi:10.1029/2007GL030675.
  20. Waliser, D. E., 2006: Intraseasonal Variations. The Asian Monsoon, B Wang, Ed., Springer, Heidelberg, Germany, 844.
  21. Waliser, D. E., 2006: Predictability of Tropical Intraseasaonal Variability. Predictability of Weather and Climate, T. Palmer and R. Hagedorn, Eds., Cambridge University Press, 718.
  22. Tian, B. J., D. E. Waliser, E. Fetzer, B. Lambrigtsen, Y. Yung, and B. Wang, 2006: Vertical Moist Thermodynamic Structure and Spatial-temporal Evolution of the Madden-Julian Oscillation in Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Observations. J. Atmos. Sci., 63, 10, 2462-2485.
  23. Waliser, D. E., K. Weickmann, R. Dole, S. Schubert, O. Alves, C. Jones, M. Newman, H-L Pan, A. Roubicek, S. Saha, C. Smith, H. van den Dool, F. Vitart, M. Wheeler, J. Whitaker, 2006: The Experimental MJO Prediction Project. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 87, 425-431.
  24. Waliser, D. E., R Murtugudde, P. Strutton, J.-L. Li, 2005, Subseasonal Organization of Ocean Chlorophyll: Prospects for Prediction Based on the Madden-Julian Oscillation, Geoph. Res. Lett., Vol. 32, No. 23, L23602, 10.1029/2005GL024300
  25. Waliser, D. E., 2005: Predictability and Forecasting Tropical Intraseasonal Variability. Intraseasonal Variability of the Atmosphere-Ocean Climate System, W. K. M. Lau and D. E. Waliser, Eds., Springer, Heidelberg, Germany, pp. 401-434.
  26. Waliser, D. E., K. M. Lau, W. Stern, C. Jones, 2003: Potential Predictability of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 84, 33-50.
  27. Waliser, D. E., W. Stern, S. Schubert, K. M. Lau, 2003: Dynamic Predictability of Intraseasonal Variability Associated with the Asian Summer Monsoon, QJRMS, 129, 2897-2925.
  28. Waliser, D. E., R. Murtugudde, and L. Lucas, 2003: Indo-Pacific Ocean Response to Atmospheric Intraseasonal Variability. Part I: Austral Summer and the Madden-Julian Oscillation, J. Geoph. Res. - Oceans. 108, C5, 3160, 10.1029/2002JC001620.
  29. Waliser, D. E. and 16 others, 2003: AGCM Simulations of Intraseasonal Variability Associated with the Asian Summer Monsoon, Clim. Dyn., 21, 423-446.
  30. Waliser, D. E., J. Ridout, S. Xie, and M. Zhang, 2002: Variational Objective Analysis for Atmospheric Field Programs: A Model Assessment, J. Atmos. Sci., 59, 3436-3456.
  31. Waliser, D. E., Z. Shi, J. Lanzante and A. Oort, 1999: The Hadley Circulation: Assessing Reanalysis and Sparse In-Situ Estimates. Clim. Dyn., 15, 719-735.
  32. Waliser, D. E., R. A. Weller, R. D. Cess, 1999: Comparisons Between Buoy-Observed, Satellite-Derived and Modeled Surface Shortwave Flux over the Subtropical North Atlantic During the Subduction Experiment. J. Geophys. Res., 104, 31,301-31,320.
  33. Waliser, D. E., W. K. Lau, J. H. Kim, 1999: The Influence of Coupled Sea Surface Temperatures on the Madden Julian Oscillation: A Model Perturbation Experiment. J. Atmos. Sci., 56, 333.
  34. Waliser, D. E., 1996: Formation and Limiting Mechanism for Very High SST: Linking the Dynamics and Thermodynamics. J. Climate, 9, 161-188.
  35. Waliser, D. E., 1996: Some Considerations on the Thermostat Hypothesis. Bull. Amer. Met. Soc., 77, 357-360.
  36. Waliser, D. E., and R. C. J. Somerville, 1994: The Preferred Latitudes of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. J. Atmos. Sci., 51, 1619-1639.
  37. Waliser, D. E. and N. E. Graham, 1993: Convective Cloud Systems and Warm-Pool SSTs: Coupled Interactions and Self-Regulation. J. Geoph. Res., 98, 12881-12893.